Moran, Huelskamp take hardball vow on debt ceiling

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., who was one of the first (and few) senators to join the Senate Tea Party Caucus in January, has similarly stepped out front to take the "Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge" being pushed by conservative groups including Let Freedom Ring and the Club for Growth. By taking the pledge, Moran has committed not to vote to raise the debt ceiling unless the vote includes substantial spending cuts and caps, and a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution — no small task politically. As of Friday, 12 Republican senators had taken the pledge. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was among 20 House members to take the pledge.